sought an interview with him, the progress and result of which are thus described by the latter:

"The manner in which John Wilbur had spoken of a Friend, when about to visit this country as a minister, having the approbation of his friends at home, and by them liberated in the usual way, gave some of his friends concern on his account; and after the friend arrived in this country, John Wilbur being then out on a religious visit to Friends in some parts of the State of New York, continued to manifest his aversion to the friend and to his writings, as I understood. In the course of the following summer, I believe in the 7th month, a friend from New Hampshire called on me to accompany him on a religious visit to the meetings of Friends in South Kingstown Monthly Meeting. I bore him company; and after having dined at John Wilbur's, we asked for a personal and select interview with him; this was readily granted, and the subject of the good order of the Society in reference to the manner in which ministers travelling abroad on religious concerns, in the authority of the Church, ought to treat each other, was brought into view, and contrasted with the course he had pursued while out on a religious visit to Friends in the State of New York. We endeavoured to convince him that his manner of treating the friend above referred to, both in speaking and writing respecting him, was not only contrary to the express scriptural injunction of doing to others as we would that others should do to us, but was likewise contrary to the injunction of our own Discipline. He appeared disposed, and repeatedly attempted to shield himself by alleging that the writings of the friend were unsound. We as often unhesitatingly assured him, that our concern to have an interview with him had no reference to writings, but that our object was to persuade him to refrain from pursuing such a course. The friend was here recommended to us by a meeting with which we were in unity; should he advance any thing unsound in public or in private, or otherwise conduct himself disorderly, he would become a subject, like all other ministers travelling among us, over whom the care of the Society ought to be extended.

"The conversation was open and free, and he was repeatedly enjoined not to blend our concern for him as

having any connection with, or reference to the writings of the friend. And we again assured him that it was a concern growing out of, as we believed, a clear conviction in our own minds that his past course in reference to that individual, would ultimately, if persisted in, be productive of serious loss to himself and injury to the Society.

"It may not be improper here to remark, that I did not converse with an individual member of South Kingstown Monthly Meeting on the subject, that did not manifest regret at the manner in which J. W. was conducting himself towards the minister referred to."

In the following winter, 1839-40, John Wilbur having obtained a certificate from South-Kingstown Monthly Meeting, to enable him to visit some of the meetings in this Yearly Meeting, a committee then under appointment from the Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, were tenderly concerned on his account, and a few of their number were deputed to have an interview with him previous to his leaving home to enter on this engagement; but failing to effect their object, they addressed to him the following communication, through one of their number. The letter is dated 1 mo. 6, 1840.

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Having written thee a few days ago, and forwarded it by mail, at the request of some of the Select Yearly Meeting's committee, proposing an interview with thee at our house on the fifth inst., the few friends referred to came at the time appointed, but as thou wast not present, —which we readily admitted may have been occasioned by reasonable causes-it was proposed that I should again address a few lines to thee, pointing out in some measure the subjects of concern that induced the committee of the Select Yearly Meeting assembled from various parts of the Yearly Meeting-twelve in number to seek an interview with thyself as proposed, and named a few friends for this purpose. Such an interview was more desirable than correspondence, and would probably have been further attempted, but from uncertainty of thy being at home, and from the expectation of those friends that were here, of leaving their several homes to-day or tomorrow, to go in a different direction.

"I feel it to be a very delicate situation to be placed in, that of being the instrument to convey the religious impressions and views of the Committee; and probably I should have at once excused myself, had not the committee named me as one of those who were requested to have such interview. If I should be found incorrect, my apology to them and thyself must be, that I was not present with the committee in their deliberations, and have not rightly comprehended their concern; but as I understand the subject, the committee in taking into consideration the state of the Ministers and Elders in this Yearly Meeting, and the duties that devolve upon them as members of the Select Yearly Meeting's Committee, became tenderly regardful of thyself, knowing that thou hadst been liberated by thy Monthly Meeting for the purpose of visiting the Quarterly Meetings, and that thou hadst commenced the fulfilment of thy prospect. And trusting that thou wilt kindly receive the manifestations of their tender regard for thy welfare and that of the church, in bringing into view in this way, a portion of ancient Discipline to which we doubt not thy own judgment and religious experience will readily assent-That ministers be very tender of one another's reputation, neither giving ear to, nor spreading reports, tending to raise in the minds of others a lessening or dis-esteem of any of the brotherhood. That by circumspect walking in all holiness of life and conversation, they may become living examples of the purity and excellence of the advices they recommend.' This advice was intended, no doubt, for all practically to regard, and it appears to have specially in view those travelling in the ministry; and I understand the committee felt themselves constrained in Christian love to bring this subject before thy view at the present time, from a persuasion that in time past there had not been that circumspection and care on thy part, which are the fruits of that charity that is the Christian's ornament, and the bond of our religious communion; in that as they believe thou hast indulged thyself, and countenanced in others, both in conversation and writing, the saying of many things tending to close up the way in Friends' minds to the reception of the labours of one who like thyself apprehends that he has a religious duty to discharge, and in the order of Society is endeavouring to accomplish

this object. And I am requested to add as the united concern of the committee, and as their advice, that if thou shouldst pursue thy prospect of visiting the Quarterly Meetings, that, for thy own preservation and the harmony and good order of Society, thou wilt be careful to refrain from introducing the subject to any with whom thou mayst associate, and wilt not open the way for others to introduce it. The committee likewise recommend thy omitting to take with thee any of thy correspondence, either written or printed, relating to the individual alluded to. And the Committee were also united in prospect that thou wouldst not be travelling in that unity of the body, so essential to the preservation of Christian fellowship, until thou mayst give evidence of thy intention to regard this advice. I was likewise requested to bring into thy view in a tender and affectionate manner, the suspension for the present of thy visit, if it may be done consistently with thy own apprehensions of religious duty.

"I have thus endeavoured to discharge the duties assigned me according to my understanding, although I am aware of its being far short of producing that mutual interest which a personal interview would have produced, yet I trust thou wilt give the subject referred to, due place in thy mind, and justly appreciate the interest manifested by the Committee for thy welfare and that of the Church."

Notwithstanding the counsel thus offered him, he proceeded on his journey; and from testimonies which we have received, it appears that the advice thus feelingly given and intended for his own preservation, and the good of the Church, was disregarded by him.

In the 5th month, 1840, in consequence of deficiencies in the answers from subordinate meetings, and "under a concern for the cause of Truth," Rhode-Island Quarterly Meeting of Ministers and Elders appointed a committee "to visit subordinate meetings and individuals as way may open for, and occasion may require, and to labor for the restoration and preservation of harmony amongst us."

The Committee thus appointed, obtained an early interview with John Wilbur, and stated to him the various

causes of uneasiness on his account. He was reminded of his improper course in relation to divers friends of our own and other Yearly Meetings, whom he had represented as unsound in religious faith; and that ministers, elders, and other friends were departing from the ancient views of our Society in relation to Baptism, the Supper, &c., producing in many instances a totally unfounded prejudice against those friends: that he had spoken of a division of the Yearly Meeting as being a probable result, soon to take place. He did not deny these charges, but pleaded in justification the alledged unsoundness of certain writings of a Friend travelling as a Minister amongst us, and offered a paper purporting to contain extracts from these writings, to prove his position. To this the committee entirely objected, as not being the matter at issue; doctrines not being at all in question; but the support of Christian order and the Discipline of the Yearly Meeting. When inquired of if he knew of an individual amongst us who had imbibed unsound principles, he objected to the question; and when pressed for an answer, in consequence of his having circulated such statements, he absolutely declined to give it. His improper course, and the injurious effects resulting therefrom to various friends, and above all to the precious cause of Truth, were fully unfolded to him; but after a full conference, in which much brotherly admonition and advice were bestowed upon him, the opportunity terminated without the Committee's receiving any satisfaction from him.

In the 4th month of this year, (1840,) a Minister from a distant Yearly Meeting travelling amongst us on a religious visit, with his companion, put up at John Wilbur's house in the course of their journey, soon after their arrival within our limits. To these friends John Wilbur spoke very freely of many members of Society among whom they would probably pass in pursuance of their